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What is the hardest thing in the world to break?

Although it holds the hardness record, diamond is not tough—if you smash it with a hammer, it will fracture and break. Diamond, pictured here in an uncut, unpolished state, is the hardest known material. ... Graphene is a one-atom-thick layer of carbon arranged in a chicken-wire pattern. More items... •

pbs.org - The World's Strongest Stuff | NOVA - PBS
Is it cheaper to build or buy a greenhouse?
Is it cheaper to build or buy a greenhouse?

Building a greenhouse is cheaper than buying a greenhouse if inexpensive materials are used, like PVC framing and plastic sheeting. Buying these...

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Last updated Jul 4, 2020
How do I keep my wooden shed cool in the summer?
How do I keep my wooden shed cool in the summer?

One of the best ways of cooling a shed is to cover it with shade. You can do this by using plants as a natural form of shade. Flowering plants and...

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Last updated Apr 17, 2019
Can I build my own shed?
Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

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Ask a materials scientist to choose the strongest material, and you are likely to get a question instead of an answer. What kind of strong? Tensile strength? Toughness? Yield strength? Hardness? When it comes to materials, there isn't a single definition of strength but rather ways to measure certain characteristics. And each material can be strong in some ways and weak in others. If you build a bridge out of glass, it may be able to hold a heavy load, but if a boat passing underneath were to strike it, it might shatter. Some materials, however, rate relatively highly in several strong characteristics, as the sampling below demonstrates.

Diamond

Unmatched in its ability to resist being scratched, this much-loved gemstone ranks the highest in terms of hardness. Diamond is a naturally occurring ceramic made of carbon atoms strongly bound together in a lattice. It is used in drill bits, sandpaper, and saws to cut, grind, and polish. Although it holds the hardness record, diamond is not tough—if you smash it with a hammer, it will fracture and break. Diamond, pictured here in an uncut, unpolished state, is the hardest known material. © ProArtWork/iStockphoto

Graphene

Made up of carbon atoms, graphene is a nano-cousin to diamond that forms a super-thin sheet only one atom thick. This may sound ultra-delicate, but the force required to break it is very high—higher than that necessary to break steel. As strong as this human-made material is, it is challenging to manufacture, and it can't be mass-produced yet. In the meantime, graphene is getting attention for other impressive characteristics, including its potential in data and energy storage.

Maraging steel

Maraging steel is a member of the super-strong steel family. It is an alloy—a mixture of metals—that is heat-treated, a process that makes it very hard and tough. Maraging steel also has the ability to withstand pulling forces, or tension (tensile strength). It can absorb a lot of energy before it deforms. And even when it does fracture, it won't break right away (fracture toughness). Finally, it can retain these talents at higher temperatures than most steel, a desired trait for use in high-performance engines and other aerospace applications.

Spectra® fiber

Does converting a garage devalue your house?
Does converting a garage devalue your house?

1. Convert your garage. If you have off-road parking and depending on where you live, you may find converting a garage can significantly increase...

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Last updated Jul 3, 2021
What size shed is easiest to build?
What size shed is easiest to build?

A 12”x24” is the most common shed size for large footprints. Nearly the size of a garage, this can hold practically anything and everything you...

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Last updated Feb 26, 2020
Can I build my own shed?
Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

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Plastic comes in all shapes and sizes, but in terms of strength, high-performance polyethylene takes the cake. This plastic is made of extremely long molecules stretched out alongside one another that bond together very tightly. Manufacture these molecules into fiber and you have Spectra®, a lightweight, tough thread that can withstand an immense amount of tension—it is five times stronger than steel on a weight-to-weight basis. These fibers can be used in everything from bullet-proof vests and armor to high-tech sports gear and sailcloth.

Spider silk

Both lightweight and tough, this biopolymer has been getting a lot of attention lately because of its high tensile strength. A thread of silk can resist more pull before breaking than a thread of most kinds of steel. It is also quite stretchy. In the spotlight recently has been the newly discovered Darwin's bark spider of Madagascar, which builds one of the largest webs known. The silk of this spider is twice as strong as other spider silks, ranking it among biological materials with the highest tensile strength and toughness known. The web of a Darwin's bark spider, seen here, is one of the toughest biological materials yet discovered. © Lalueza-Fox, C.; Agnarsson, I.; Kuntner, M.; Blackledge, T. A.

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Carbon/carbon composite

What do you get when you put ultra-strong carbon fibers within a super-strong carbon matrix? A carbon/carbon composite. There are many different types of such composites, and all have different properties depending on how the fibers lie in relation to the matrix. But carbon/carbon composites in general have a slew of strong properties. They can resist an immense amount of tension, and they can absorb a lot of force before cracking (toughness). And because they are lightweight, these composites are particularly useful to aerospace engineers. High-performance aircraft like the B-2 bomber use them, and they are also found in the skin of space shuttles and in the nose cones of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. This B-2 bomber gets its strength, in part, from carbon/carbon composites. © telegraham/iStockphoto

How do I secure my backyard shed?
How do I secure my backyard shed?

10 Shed Security Ideas Implement an Alarm System and/or Sensor Lights. ... Try Using a Shed Security Camera. ... Choose a High Security Shed Lock....

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Last updated Apr 16, 2020
Can you paint new uPVC doors?
Can you paint new uPVC doors?

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Last updated May 3, 2020

Silicon carbide

Made of silicon and carbon, this ceramic is found in meteorites in small quantities. Fortunately, manufacturers here on Earth have also been able to produce it commercially. This material almost matches diamond in its hardness, but it surpasses it in its toughness. Silicon carbide is used in grinding tools, sandpaper, and brake discs, to name a few applications. It is also the basis for Chobham armor for battle tanks—an armor so effective that not one British Challenger tank was destroyed in Operation Desert Storm.

Nickel-based super-alloys

In engineering, simply being strong at room temperature doesn't always cut it. Materials need to be able to withstand extreme situations. High heat is one circumstance that nickel-based super-alloys can handle. Composed of nickel, aluminum, titanium, and a complex soup of other elements, these metallic alloys are strong and tough. But more importantly, they retain these strong qualities at very high temperatures. Where most metals or alloys lose strength in high-heat situations, nickel-based super-alloys aren't affected until they reach close to their melting point, which makes them the perfect material for turbine blades and discs for jet engines.

Turbine engines contain nickel-based super-alloys, which can withstand high temperatures. © sndr/iStockphoto

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pbs.org - The World's Strongest Stuff | NOVA - PBS
What crafts are trending?
What crafts are trending?

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How do I build a shed budget?
How do I build a shed budget?

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Last updated Oct 20, 2021
How do you reinforce a wooden door?
How do you reinforce a wooden door?

The best way to reinforce your frame is by adding a layer of steel to prevent them from splitting. This makes your door kick proof. Installation...

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Last updated Jul 26, 2020
Can I build my own shed?
Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

Learn More »
Promotion
What is the most common front door material?
What is the most common front door material?

Wood is the most common front door material. Wood doors typically consist of hardwoods such as oak, cherry, maple and walnut. They provide a...

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Last updated Sep 20, 2018